This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Tainan.
Tainan, very well-known in Taiwan for its heritage buildings and temples, is one of the biggest Taiwanese cities and it is also famous for being the oldest city in Taiwan -- most tourists go there to enjoy and learn about its history.
There are plenty of city buses to go around; alternatively, you can rent a bike or even walk if you don't mind. Tainan is easy to reach, either by both high speed or slow train. Make sure you grab a free map from the tourist information centre at the train station to navigate the city easily.
There are plenty of delicious Taiwanese dishes you can taste in Tainan either at one of the many night markets or simply by stopping at one of the many local food stalls/vendors at every corner of the streets. There are other activities to do apart from visiting markets. One of the main points of interest is the Anping District, home to most of the old buildings. In this district, it is also possible to see the famous Anping Tree House, which is a quite unique and unusual site to visit -- this historical house is wrapped with trees' roots, hence the name.
Tainan is also known its very good, muddy hot springs, called Guanziling. It is possible to buy the hot spring mud everywhere and use it on your own time, which is a good option if you don't have the budget and/or the time to have a treatment done.
Being quite a tourist city, there are plenty of options in terms of accommodations, including more pricey hotels, bed and breakfasts, and budget hostels in Tainan. Most Tainan hostels offer free Wi-Fi, lockers, and bicycle rentals.
Written by local enthusiast for Tainan hostels
ANGLOITALIAN